Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #56

[weepingangel]

Deadly New COVID-Linked Syndrome Identified in Over 10 Mass. Kids

Over 10 children have now been treated in Massachusetts hospitals for a mysterious inflammatory syndrome believed to be related to the coronavirus.

The Boston Globe reported Thursday that Boston Children's Hospital has now treated six patients with pediatric inflammatory multi-system syndrome, or PIMS. MassGeneral Hospital for Children has treated four more juvenile patients, and Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield said it has seen "a small but unspecified number of cases" of the illness.

 

[Inthedetails]

When I read that article there is a tin of sardines being advertised as healthy food in the middle of it.

LOL!

jmo

 

[Footwarrior]

What is required for a phone to participate in this?

Does one need to download an app?

Does one need to have location services turned on?

Does one need to be logged in to a google account?

The contract tracing scheme doesn’t require location services or a google account. It will be opt in and controlled by an App at first. Later it will become part of the device operating system but still allow user control.

https://covid19-static.cdn-apple.co...-tracing/pdf/ExposureNotification-FAQv1.1.pdf

 

[tresir2012]

Trump says virus chief's warning 'not acceptable'

US President Donald Trump has said a sobering warning by his top infectious diseases expert about lifting pandemic restrictions too soon was unacceptable.

He accused Dr Anthony Fauci of wanting "to play all sides of the equation" in his testimony to lawmakers on Tuesday.

The president said he was especially dissatisfied with Dr Fauci's caution around reopening schools too quickly.

Covid-19 has infected nearly 1.4 million people in the US and killed 84,000, while ravaging the economy.

• Things the US has got right - and got wrong
• Fed warns of slow recovery without more virus aid
• US accuses China of hacking coronavirus research

What did the US president say?
Speaking on Wednesday at the White House, Mr Trump took issue with Dr Fauci's comments to a Senate hearing a day earlier about the risks to children of reopening and his assessment that a vaccine was unlikely before classes could begin this autumn.

"Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation," Mr Trump said of his top coronavirus expert's concerns.

Media captionHow Denmark reopened its primary schools
"I was surprised by his answer actually, because, you know, it's just to me - it's not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools," the president told reporters.

He said "the only thing that would be acceptable" is giving older teachers and professors a few more weeks before they return.

"Because this is a disease that attacks age, and it attacks health," the president said.

Media captionStay-at-home protesters clash with city council president in California
"But with the young children, I mean, and students, it's really - just take a look at the statistics. It's pretty amazing," Mr Trump added.

The Republican president is keen to get Americans back to work and has praised governors who are moving to do so while criticising others for not acting aggressively enough.

The country is split over Mr Trump's focus on protecting livelihoods, and critics accuse him of gambling with lives to serve his own political interests ahead of November's re-election bid.

 

[Inthedetails]

"Armed militia-style protesters have helped businesses across Texas defy coronavirus lockdowns and reopen."

Businesses Chafing Under Covid-19 Lockdowns Turn to Armed Defiance

 

[Tadpole12]

COVID-19: Ontario moves to reopen many workplaces, resume recreational activities

"The Ontario government has released a long list of workplaces that may reopen on May 19 as it enters "Stage 1" of its plan to get the economy moving again."

 

[cody22]

'Judgment Day': See the protest against Michigan's stay home order at the Capitol

Lansing, Michigan Protest Virus News.....moo

Barber says he isn't shutting down after the state suspends his licenses

More Michigan Barber Virus News.....moo

Fishing and lockdown: Is fishing exercise?

UK Fishing Virus News..............moo

Shooter's Grill owner served with restraining order after reopening

Grand Junction, Colorado Virus News....moo

Smoke billows non-stop from crematorium as coronavirus overwhelms morgues

Mexico Virus News....moo

 

[Inthedetails]

"President Trump on Thursday went without a mask during a visit to a Pennsylvania medical equipment distribution center, even as other government officials in his party wore face coverings around the facility."

Trump goes without mask on trip to Pennsylvania PPE factory

 

[10ofRods]

Italian doctors find link between Covid-19 and inflammatory disorder

Hope this is new. It gives a figure of 1 in 1000 children affected.

I hadn't seen it - so thank you. I hope that figure is high. There are apparently about 3 dozen cases in China as well - it seems to happen about 2 months after exposure, and the exposure is usually asymptomatic or mild. So it apparently keeps eroding the child's immune system until it can attack the same type of cell it attacks in adults.

Next, there should be some medical recommendations. We may want to prioritize kids for antibody testing.

Now, we really do have to consider Dr Fauci's concerns about reopening schools. The parents of the little boy in New York seem to think he got it at school, as no one they know has been sick and he was still in school when he had mild symptoms.

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Varadkar 'increasingly confident' Phase One of lifting restrictions will begin on Monday

(Ireland)

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said he is “increasingly confident” that Ireland will be able to move to Phase One of the government’s roadmap for lifting restrictions on Monday.

Speaking in the Dáil today during Leaders’ Questions, Varadkar said the first steps to “reawaken” the economy will be done in a slow and gradual way.

“As we are seeing around the world, it is not a straight path. Sometimes progress is halted and there are setbacks.

“Whilst every death is of concern, in the last seven days we’ve seen the lowest daily number of deaths and cases since March.”

He warned that in other countries progress has been halted and there have been set backs due to a spike in numbers, adding that the government will “expect” and “look” for clusters and flare-ups as the country reopens.

 

[10ofRods]

'Judgment Day': See the protest against Michigan's stay home order at the Capitol

Lansing, Michigan Protest Virus News.....moo

Barber says he isn't shutting down after the state suspends his licenses

More Michigan Barber Virus News.....moo

It's odd that CV has brought us to the brink of a new kind of "criminal." I am inclined to take the view that if the barber shop has a big ole sign that says "You could get CoVid here - you might want to wear a mask!" and perhaps they should also read it to their patrons (as was done in the early 1900's because some people just won't read)...then the haircut-seekers should just go pay the barber, get their haircut.

I understand why Michigan wants contact information, though. Maybe a compromise? Because those newly shorn patrons could carry it back out into the community. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to wear masks and do the best social distancing we can, while these impatient ones keep the community unsafe.

Since there will be a limited number of people visiting retail and other businesses, I would think that local businesses would dislike having half the population stay away indefinitely, in order for some to get haircuts and go to the gym.

Of course, I don't get the importance of haircuts and I think there are lots of ways to exercise at home, but that's just me.

 

[The Night Watchman]

Thank you!

I hope you know that you (and other WSers of course) really make my day. Teaching from home is...isolating and of course, the community here is so much better informed than my students. I learn so much from WS every day, plus I get a chance to share ideas and thoughts that are definitely over the heads of my students.

I am going to start sending my students to WS (this forum, actually) where they are supposed to observe (not contribute until I give them an okay). I want them to see how a discussion can actually work and how people can disagree but still discuss. I cleared this with Tricia yesterday.

I look forward to your posts, too, Night Watchman. I feel as if I know you, and I guess we do know each other. Tricia encouraged me to use my sig line to say a bit more about my background, so I'm going to do that. I do have access to online resources that many do not, so I try to share - and I'm happy to research questions when I can. Unfortunately, I have now collected some 1000 links and articles and didn't do a good job categorizing them from the start, which I'm going to do this summer.

This CoVid situation is moving so fast. My anthropologist friends and I are all fascinated, as we've obviously studied epidemics and pandemics throughout our careers, but never thought we'd actually live to see something like this (many of us are over 60, but I have to say our younger colleagues are incredibly amazing, as they know way more about RNA than I do, as I went to school too early to learn as much as I could have).

I agree that this is a great forum to share information and discuss subjects. I have pretty strong opinions on what is happening, and a lot of that is formed here, amid polite challenging of widely differing viewpoints. And I'm doing better lately as most of my posts are now not being removed! BTW, are you saying that you might know me? Cheers.

 

[Tadpole12]

Carnival Cruise bookings up 600% for August:

What pandemic? Carnival Cruise bookings soar 600% for August trips

"The Cruise Planners representative said those making booking were generally younger and healthy and thus "were not a bit concerned about travelling at this time." The rep also said a pent-up desire for travelling after being cooped up in lockdown for so long has played a part in the surge of bookings."

...

"Of course, the fact that you can also book a Carnival Cruise for as low as $28 a night might have something to do
with the high number of August booking, too."

https://cruises.priceline.com/promotion/carnival-cruises.do

- save up to 77% to 91%

 

[Inthedetails]

"The Cruise Planners representative said those making booking were generally younger and healthy and thus "were not a bit concerned about travelling at this time." The rep also said a pent-up desire for travelling after being cooped up in lockdown for so long has played a part in the surge of bookings."

...

"Of course, the fact that you can also book a Carnival Cruise for as low as $28 a night might have something to do
with the high number of August booking, too."

https://cruises.priceline.com/promotion/carnival-cruises.do

- save up to 77% to 91%

Doesn't sound like a good deal to me, but safe travels to them....on the planes and in the buffet lines.

jmo

 

[Tadpole12]

bbm

"An alarming video from Japan that used a black light demonstrates how quickly the coronavirus can spread aboard a cruise ship or in a restaurant when just one person is infected....

Invisible fluorescent paint — visible only under a black light — was applied to the palm of one of the subjects, who was tapped as the “infected” person and coughed into his hand. The paint represented the deadly pathogen."

THE GOOD NEWS:

"In a separate experiment, the scientists set up the buffet taking measures to protect against disease transmission by separating dishes, replacing tongs frequently and encouraging diners to wash their hands before, during and after the meal.

In that scenario, the paint spread 97 percent less than it did initially and did not end up on any of the other participants’ faces, according to Forbes."

https://nypost.com/2020/05/14/video-shows-how-quickly-coronavirus-can-spread-at-a-restaurant/

Wash hands! Don't touch your face!

jmo

That was ausome video.

 

[Inthedetails]

Interesting info at the 5:00 mark about using noise as an indicator if an indoor space is a safe place to be - I haven't heard this tip before!

#CNN #News
Biologist: Avoid these types of places to protect yourself

 

[Inthedetails]

That was ausome video.

I thought so too!

 

[10ofRods]

Some of the children with the symptoms of a kawasaki-like illness either are covid positive or have tested positive for antibodies. Some are (not referring to posters), imo desperately, trying to link the "syndrome" directly to covid.

I don't see a single bit of desperation in the science on this. I see pre-prints and soon there will be juried articles. Actually, Lancet already has one:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31103-X/fulltext

Unless you can challenge the science in there, I think it's extreme to use the word "desperation" in regard to the authors.

And here's a preprint that has the same conclusions - this time from Paris. I do not think there's an international conspiracy of "desperate" scientists who want to try and make it look like kids are vulnerable, when they are not. It's clear that these kids have a unique and unusual form of "Kawasaki" and all of the serious cases have had CoVId:

Outbreak of Kawasaki disease in children during COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective observational study in Paris, France

 

[10ofRods]

Interesting info at the 5:00 mark about using noise as an indicator if an indoor space is a safe place to be - I haven't heard this tip before!

#CNN #News
Biologist: Avoid these types of places to protect yourself

I never thought I'd find a real use for my Apple Watch's decibel meter, but there it is!

Interesting. One thing I've noticed on subways (in New York, London, Paris and Milan, which are the only places I've regularly used them) is how quiet, in general, the sardine-like passengers actually are. As the train emptied out a little (we were staying in Hammersmith), the London teens and young people did start talking more, but when it was really crowded, I didn't hear much conversation. Don't know if that's normal, as we were only there for a month and we were on the train around rush hour nearly every early evening (heading back to Hammersmith).

At any rate, I think this would work in a restaurant or food court environment, if there are any open to go to.

 

[10ofRods]

Here's another updated story about Jayden:
An 8-year-old boy with coronavirus antibodies went into cardiac arrest. His brother's CPR saved his life - CNN

From this link: (BBM)
"This is the mystery of what's happening with the kids today," Hardowar said, adding that doctors told them an underlying condition the boy had may have been "compromised as a result of the coronavirus."
But the parents had no idea he may have had the condition."
......

"An informal panel of pediatricians organized by Boston Children's Hospital dubbed the condition "Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Potentially Associated with Covid-19."

"The condition appears to be a post-viral syndrome, said Dr. Jeffrey Burns, a critical care specialist at Boston Children's Hospital who has been coordinating a global group of doctors who compare notes on the condition. Doctors are investigating cases in at least 150 children, most of them in New York."

"This multisystem inflammatory syndrome is not directly caused by the virus," Burns told CNN. "The leading hypothesis is that it is due to the immune response of the patient."

So perhaps a hyperactive immune system? I wonder how many kids have this underlying condition and whether they can be tested for it before they are sent back into the herd?